Some of
the blue lava dust is sticking to our mast yet, although we have swabbed
decks and rigging again and again to be clear of it.
"After a little more than an hour's fast running we saw daylight ahead
and began to breathe easier. If I had not talked with Captain Freeman
and heard from him just how the black swirl of wind and fire rolled down
upon him, I would not have been so apprehensive, but would have thought
that the darkness and cloud that came down upon us meant just an
unusually heavy squall."
CHIEF ENGINEER FARRISH'S STORY
"The Etona's run from Montevideo was a fast one--I think a record
breaker. We were 22 days and 21 hours from port to port. Off Martinique
I stared at the coast for about an hour, and then went below. The blue
lava that covered everything faded into the haze that hung over the
island so that nothing was distinctly visible. Through my glass I
discovered a stream of lava, though. It stretched down the mountain
side, and seemed to be flowing into the sea. It was not clearly and
distinctly visible, however.
"About 3 o'clock I went below to take forty winks. I had been in my
berth only a few minutes when the steward told me the captain wanted me
on the bridge.
"'Do you see that, Farrish?' he asked, pointing at the land. An outburst
of smoke seemed to be sweeping down upon us. It made me think of the
Roddam's experience. Smoke and dust closed in about us, shutting out the
sunlight, and precipitating a fall of lava on our decks.
Pages:
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415